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Devin Rowe is a bronze sculptor who was born in a small coastal town in Oregon in 1966. Spending a lifetime hunting, fishing and studying wildlife has given Devin a deep understanding and appreciation of nature and all her creations. He lives and works in Oregon and Alaska, where his love of wildlife and the outdoors ultimately lead to his Naturalistic style of sculpture.
At the age of 16, Devin took a high-school art class where he created his first sculpture in bronze, which led to the discovery of his unique talent. That first sculpture sold in an art gallery the same year, and it was the catalyst for what has become a successful full-time sculpting career.
Devin fine-tuned his natural abilities at Oregon State University where he earned a degree in Art in 1992. Many of his college professors tried to encourage him to be more stylized in his work, but he never felt a connection with that genre of sculpture. His love and appreciation of nature kept him focused on more realistic interpretations of what nature has to offer. Devin believes that if you are creating a scene from nature, your representation should honor the subject and capture every detail of its beauty. Devin chose bronze as his medium for its timeless quality and the rich personality it allows a sculpture to convey through the details it holds.
Early in his career, Devin had works of art in several galleries in Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, and Alaska. Today, Devin shows and sells his artwork at several invitational venues each year. His sculptures can also be found in both private and public collections across the globe. Recently, Devin was commissioned to create and install his life-size elk “Autumn Symphony” for the Centennial Celebration in the town of Reedsport, OR, where he was born. The highlight of his professional career, however, was being invited to the White House in 2004 to present his life-size Bald Eagle to President George W. Bush in the Oval Office. Devin also belongs to multiple wildlife conservation organizations and he takes pride in knowing his donations to those groups help protect and enhance the wildlife that he loves.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Growing up, the fields, streams and forests of the Pacific Northwest were my playgrounds. I have always been captivated by wildlife, and the true perfection of nature is the inspiration behind the artwork I create. I have always believed that if you are creating a scene from nature, your representation should honor the subject and capture every detail of its beauty. My style of Realism is not a choice, but a natural expression of my vision. My unique sculpting ability was discovered in a high school art class. With sculpture, I found that I could take a picture in my mind and recreate it with my hands. Bronze is the medium I chose because of its timeless beauty, but also because it allows my artwork to be enjoyed visually as well as tactically. I believe that being able to touch a bronze statue affords the viewer a sensory experience they wouldn’t get with other art forms. I seldom sketch out my ideas for a piece; I typically start with my imagination and a brick of clay. I want my work to show every intricacy of nature, so I give as much detail to the surrounding scene as I do to the main subject of each sculpture. My creation is recreated through the Lost Wax process, which allows for intricate details to be duplicated with finite precision. I keep my editions low to ensure the quality of each finished work of art I create. The patina, or color application of each bronze, is created by using a combination of different heats and acids and is as unique as each animal is in nature. Each year I attend select outdoor-enthusiast conventions and expositions, showcasing and selling my artwork. I’ve also had a private showing each summer at Waterfall Resort in Alaska for the last 20 years. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a living by expressing my imagination and recreating scenes from nature for others to enjoy for a lifetime.